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On Saturday, April 4, 2020, we reported–albeit with much personal excitement-that there was potentially an adaptation of the beloved Disney book series Kingdom Keepers in the works for Disney+. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
A Kingdom Keepers series was proposed and in the works, though. In fact, Kevin Smith and others had worked on the series for two years. But it was ultimately passed over for, almost being too much Disney even for even Disney+.
The filmmaker made it clear on Sunday, April 5, 2020, after accidentally alerting all Disney fans to this pseudo-secret project.
He tweeted:
“That was a blast to write 2 years ago. It was planned as one of the first shows to launch on what would become @disneyplus. Then a new exec was put in charge of the app and he killed KK. Said we used too much @Disney IP in one project (every character in the park comes to life).”
That was a blast to write 2 years ago. It was planned as one of the first shows to launch on what would become @disneyplus. Then a new exec was put in charge of the app and he killed KK. Said we used too much @Disney IP in one project (every character in the park comes to life). https://t.co/8izGTsg10H
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 5, 2020
For the die-hard Kingdom Keepers fan–or any Disney fan that would love to see all the characters come to life in the parks–it is hard to say which would be worse. The fact that there is no such series in the works or that such a series was considered and passed over. At any rate, it is not the first series to get passed over and it won’t be the last.
But out of the ashes of Kingdom Keepers grew the series that would help catapult Disney’s straight-to-consumer streaming service to unprecedented success: The Mandalorian.
Smith follows his initial response by giving credit where credit was do tweeting:
“The @disneyplus exec may have scrapped Kingdom Keepers, but he’s also the guy who said “Let’s do @starwars & @MarvelStudios shows!” So as much as I wouldn’t like to make my show, I’m much happier watching #TheMandalorian and can’t wait for #WandaVision. #FanFistFilmmakerSecond.”
The @disneyplus exec may have scrapped Kingdom Keepers, but he’s also the guy who said “Let’s do @starwars & @MarvelStudios shows!” So as much as I would’ve liked to make my show, I’m much happier watching #TheMandolorian and can’t wait for #WandaVision. #FanFirstFilmmakerSecond https://t.co/XPYoG5iTAy
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 5, 2020
And Disney+ delivered on The Mandalorian. Jon Favreau’s epic space western staring Pedro Pascal (and “Baby Yoda”) was an overnight sensation and fans are now counting down the days to October and the release of season 2. Marvel shows such as WandaVision are also being pined for with high hopes and anticipation.
There is still no word from the book series author and creator, Ridley Pearson. You can still read his work and all of the magical adventures of Finn Whitman and his pals.